A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has condemned the Senate’s early endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Bassey Otu, and other APC candidates for the 2027 elections, describing the development as a flagrant violation of the Electoral Act.
Speaking with DAILY POST in Calabar, Ahiakwo emphasized that the law explicitly prohibits political campaigns more than two years ahead of general elections.
He accused the Senate leadership of coercing members into adopting a sole presidential candidate, calling the move “crass impunity”.
He recalled APC’s past criticism of PDP’s 2015 endorsement of President Jonathan as undemocratic, questioning the party’s current double standard.
Ahiakwo also took aim at President Tinubu’s alleged comment likening the APC to “giants with elephantiasis,” saying, “It makes a caricature of our elites who believe anything is possible once in power.”
He decried the sole candidacy narrative as insulting to Nigeria’s educated and politically aware population.
The lawyer further warned that ongoing defections into the ruling party could jeopardize the credibility of the 2027 elections.
“Cross-carpeting may be seen as a strategy to win elections, but it cuts across all societal divides and reflects a desperate struggle for political survival,” he stated.
Ahiakwo concluded that the APC’s actions risk reinforcing public perceptions of the party as lacking transparency and indulging in unchecked political dominance
